If you’re looking for an interesting, but unusual plant or flower gift to give someone, look no further than an orchid, or orchids. People sometimes think orchids are hard to grow and demand constant attention. Orchids are not that difficult to grow, if you know how to care for them and can give them, or create for them, the exact conditions they need to survive and thrive.

How to Grow a Phalaenopsis Orchid

Lighting

Orchids need light, but very few species tolerate intense bright light. Make sure that you can give the orchid the exact lighting it needs. If you have an east-facing window, a Phalaenopsis is an excellent choice. Use the leaves as your lighting guide. If the leaves on your plant turn dark green and start to flop, you need to move the plant to a brighter spot. Orchid leaves should always have a medium greenish color and feel firm to the touch.

Temperatures

Room or outdoor air temperature is an important consideration when growing Phalaenopsis orchids. These orchids like warm temperatures. Consistency is also important. During the day, if the outdoor temperatures warm up to 85 degrees F, then place the plant outside, but protect it from intense sun. It is also important to give your plant cooler night temperatures. The lowest nighttime temperature a Phalaenopsis will tolerate is 65 degrees F. Ideally, the difference between the daytime and nighttime temperature should be 10 degrees.

Air Flow and Ventilation

Phalaenopsis orchids are epiphytes. That means they are air plants and in their native habitat, they don’t grow in any planting medium; they attach to tree branches or nearby objects for support. They absorb water from atmospheric moisture and rainwater that falls on the plants. They get nutrition from decomposing plant material around them. The orchid you buy from Eastern Floral is planted in an attractive container. Make sure that the spot you choose is far enough away from other plants for air to circulate around it. Make sure that the ventilation is also good. An oscillating fan is an effective way to make sure that the air in the room where you have your orchid, is constantly moving.

Watering

Orchids like to be consistently moist, but never wet. If you let the growing medium get too wet, the plant may develop root rot. The best way to find out if your plant needs water is by sticking your finger in the soil. The surface may be dry, but the soil surrounding the roots may be moist. When you water the plant, use room temperature water. Rainwater or filtered water is preferable because it doesn’t have the mineral salts that exist in tap water. Saturate the plant and let the water drain out of the bottom of the pot.

Fertilizer

If you use an all-purpose liquid fertilizer to feed your orchid, dilute it to half strength. During the growing season (spring, summer and fall,) fertilize your plant two or three times a month. When the plant is blooming, look for a bloom-boosting fertilizer with a 10-20-10 chemical distribution.

If your plant is growing in bark, look for a urea-free fertilizer with a concentration of 20-20-20. During winter, fertilize your orchid less often – only one to two times a month. Unless you water with highly purified or rainwater, flush the mineral salts out of the growing medium. Do this by drenching the growing medium, letting the excess water drain out before returning it to its growing spot.